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Iraq

Policy Analysis on Iraq

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MS-Khazali-Walking-Cover
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Qais al-Khazali Tries, Fails to Tone Down Militant Bluster
Khazali finally reacts to the Israel-Iran conflict to avoid further embarrassing his militant base—underlining the difficulties of being a surface politician and a closet terrorist.
Jun 25, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
MS-Sabereen-WarGraphic-Cover
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militias Show Cohesion and Restraint During Iran-Israel War
The self-styled "resistance" is probably being held in reserve in case the United States joins the war, with militias noticeably restraining themselves so far.
Jun 19, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Brief Analysis
Key Outside Actors in the Iran-Israel Showdown:
A Compilation of Washington Institute Assessments
Experts assess the roles that various actors may seek to play during and after conflict, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi militias, Palestinian factions, and international powers such as China, Russia, and the EU.
Jun 18, 2025
◆
  • Hanin Ghaddar
  • Noam Raydan
  • Michael Knights
  • Ghaith al-Omari
  • Grant Rumley
  • Anna Borshchevskaya
  • Souhire Medini
Chinese and Iraqi flags fly in Beijing during a state visit - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Iraq Pledges Nuclear Cooperation with Russia and China
A cabinet minister and senior member of the Iran-backed terrorist organization Asaib Ahl al-Haq recently announced nuclear cooperation deals with two U.S. adversaries.
Jun 11, 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
MS-UAB-cover
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
New Evidence of Real-World Attacks by Uli al-Baas
The group's name has been making the rounds for months, but videos and other actual evidence of its claimed attacks against Israel are only now beginning to emerge.
Jun 10, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Badr Organization military wing logo
Articles & Testimony
Badr Organization: Iran’s Oldest Proxy in Iraq
An in-depth look at why Congress should follow through on calls to sanction the group, which has been closely tied to Iran-backed terrorism for decades.
June 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
Qais al-Khazali's declassified interrogation file
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Qais al-Khazali Praises His “Honorable” Role in Murder of Americans
The senior political and "resistance" figure is still trying to legitimize the cold-blooded murder of unarmed Americans in the 2007 Karbala raid.
Jun 5, 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Harakat al-Abdal armored vehicles and flags
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Harakat al-Abdal
An inveterate opponent of the United States and Israel, the enigmatic Harakat al-Abdal may have become an entirely Qods Force-operated, Syria-based entity years ago, posing questions about where its fighters now reside and what became of its PMF status in Iraq.
Jun 2, 2025
◆
  • Sary Mumayiz
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Sudani_Eidani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah Sides with Sudani in Power Struggle Against Eidani
The Iran-backed militant group is signaling its seriousness about elections, aiming for better results in heavily populated Basra, and seeking to keep its rivals separated.
May 27, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH-linked Iraqi MP Mustafa Sanad
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Terrorist Wing of the Iraqi Government Opposes Sharaa Visit
Two of Prime Minister Sudani's partners in government—the terrorist groups Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq—have stepped up their efforts to bar Syria's new president from a Baghdad summit.
May 15, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Qais_AAH
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Asaib Ahl al-Haq Accuses Faleh al-Fayyad of Turkish Collusion
The militia continues to battle with the PMF secretary-general, this time highlighting his alleged promotion of Turkish interests in the hope of undermining him.
May 8, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Photo of an oil facility in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Articles & Testimony
Iraqi Oil and the Iran Threat Network
Terrorist organizations are exploiting Iraq’s energy sector to the tune of billions of dollars per year, raising the need for more intensive efforts to trace how revenues are routed into oil “voucher” programs and other diversion schemes.
April 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
KH_protest
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Return of Abu Ali al-Askari
In its first statement since October, a notorious Kataib Hezbollah Telegram account offered a deeper dive into how the "resistance" views a range of new developments in Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
Apr 24, 2025
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sharaa_wanted
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sudani's Invitation to Ahmed al-Sharaa Triggers Militia Backlash
Iraq's self-styled "resistance" had an allergic reaction to the idea of Syria's new president setting foot on Iraqi soil, putting Prime Minister Sudani at odds with some of his terrorist supporters.
Apr 23, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH-Prayers
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah Chief Urges Ongoing Caution with the United States
Abu Hussein has asked the group's fighters to keep showing restraint, seemingly reinforcing Iran's preference for calm as nuclear talks with Washington proceed.
Apr 22, 2025
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
An Iraqi member of a Shia PMF militia
Brief Analysis
The Danger of Letting Iraq’s PMF Authority Law Pass
The Trump administration needs to quietly but firmly signal Baghdad that enshrining the militia umbrella group as a de facto “Iraqi IRGC” would pose an unacceptable threat to U.S. interests.
Apr 8, 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
Abdul-Mahdi_Sanaa
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Abdulmahdi in Yemen: An Emerging Militia Godfather
A former Iraqi prime minister is using his freedom from U.S. sanctions to act as an envoy between designated terrorist groups.
Mar 28, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
A soldier from Iraq's Counter Terrorism Service participates in a joint training exercise with U.S. colleagues - source: U.S. Department of Defense
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
U.S. Support for Iraqi Security Forces: Challenges and Future Prospects under Trump
With U.S. security aid for Iraq under review, Baghdad is attempting to assess the potential impact of an extended freeze on its national security.
Mar 21, 2025
◆
  • Mohanad Faris
An Iraqi member of a Shia PMF militia
Brief Analysis
Iraq’s PMF Law Is No Substitute for Real Security Reform
The Trump administration should not be duped by the supposed “reforms” that militia leaders are considering in parliament, which threaten to turn the PMF into another Iranian “Revolutionary Guard” and keep U.S.-designated terrorists in key posts.
Mar 17, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
Qais_Sulaimani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Dual Face of Qais al-Khazali: Extremist at Heart, Politician by Necessity
Khazali presents himself as a mainstream political figure, but his internal narrative reveals unwavering loyalty to Iran's "axis of resistance" and a deeply entrenched extremist ideology opposed to the West.
Mar 17, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight

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The Washington Institute's Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics focuses on social, political, and economic developments in the Arab world, with an emphasis on the Arab countries of the Levant.

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Featured experts

Michael Eisenstadt
Michael Eisenstadt
Michael Eisenstadt is the Kahn Senior Fellow and director of The Washington Institute's Military and Security Studies Program.
Michael Knights
Michael Knights
Michael Knights is the Jill and Jay Bernstein Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and cofounder of the Militia Spotlight platform, which offers in-depth analysis of developments related to Iran-backed militias.
Bilal Wahab
Bilal Wahab
Bilal Wahab was the Nathan and Esther K. Wagner Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.
Elizabeth Dent - source: The Washington Institute
Elizabeth Dent
Elizabeth Dent is a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where she focuses on U.S. foreign and defense policy toward the Gulf states, Iraq, and Syria.
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